Lionel Messi suffered an injury scare ahead of the World Cup as he left Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia Union with an apparent hamstring injury.
The Argentina superstar, who almost never gets substituted, was taken off in the 73rd minute, meaning he was in the changing room when Luis Suárez’s third goal of the night helped the defending MLS champions beat Philadelphia Union 6-4t.
No preliminary diagnosis of any issue for Messi was immediately announced. Messi has dealt with hamstring issues on at least two other occasions during his three-year stint with Inter Miami.
In past instances of possible soft tissue injuries, the team has ordered an MRI exam relatively quickly to determine severity. There was no indication in this case from the club that any tests on Messi were scheduled; Mateo Silvetti, the Argentine who replaced Messi on Sunday night, said he had no idea what had happened.
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‘I tried to see how he was doing. I have the same doubt as everyone else,’ Silvetti said after the match.
Messi had two assists and German Berterame scored twice during a record-setting first half for Inter Miami. But Messi was unable to finish the match and went off after, in the 71st minute, he reached toward his left hamstring at least once.
It wasn’t clear if Messi’s departure was precautionary or not. Messi has said in the past that he would only play in the World Cup if healthy.
Argentina starts group stage play on June 16.
Messi has already appeared in five World Cups, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player twice – first in 2014, then again in 2022 when he led Argentina to the title. That award has been given out only since 1982, but he is the lone player to win it twice.
Argentina is in Group J for the World Cup. Its group stage matches: Algeria, at Kansas City, on June 16; Austria, at Arlington, Texas, on June 22; and Jordan, back in Arlington, on June 27.
If Argentina wins that group – and the defending champions would be heavily favored to do so – then Messi would play a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens on July 3.
The only other way for Messi to play in South Florida during the tournament would be if Argentina is in the third-place match on July 18.